Dear Parents,

What an amazing community day we had at St Mary’s on Friday! The Prep Nativity was something very special with our littlest students telling the Christmas story. This is a significant event on our school calendar and I was so proud of every Prep student. Thanks to our super teachers, Kath, Kim and Ange, who supported the students.

A huge thank you to Lisa Galvin for her excellent organisation of the Colour Run afternoon and the community BBQ. It was such a great afternoon full of fun and positivity. Thanks to parents that assisted and to Christine, Christa and Stacey for all they have done for fundraising throughout 2023.

The whole school theme for this week focuses on showing peace and love. At this time of Advent, we reflect on the importance of always looking out for others in our community, spreading peace and love to all through our actions and words. We are also celebrating all the accomplishments that have been achieved with agency, ensuring all members of our community are flourishing in their daily lives. Peace comes from the Hebrew word shalom: completeness, soundness, tranquil, calm, friendship, health and prosperity. Advent is a time to reflect on the birth of Jesus and to pray for peace: peace in our hearts, peace in our lives, peace in the world!

Our Year 5 students are currently looking at their leadership positions for Year 6, along with Year 4 students applying for Health Promoting schools and Play is the Way leaders. Year 4 students are also looking at Mangrove Warriors and Dolphin Research positions. We are so proud of the way our senior students lead with agency in our school. It is so important to allow students to have a voice, make a difference and build their leadership capabilities. We look forward to all of the student agency we will witness throughout 2024 as our upcoming senior students strive to be of service to others.

The 12th December is our official orientation day and all students in the school will attend a session with their new teacher for 2024. This provides an opportunity for students to be prepared for the following school year.

On this day, you will receive an envelope with all the necessary information pertaining to the 2024 school year. This will also be sent home via Operoo.

You will also be invited to book an individual session with your child’s teacher at the commencement of the 2024 school year. This information will be provided in the information pack.

2024 Commencement Dates
29th January 2024	School staff resume – Staff professional learning
30th January 2024	Individual Conferences with Classroom Teacher
31st January 2024	Individual Conferences with Classroom Teacher
1st February 2024	Students commence classes
9th February 2024	Beginning of the Year School Mass and Welcome BBQ 2pm Leaders ceremony and badge presentation

Term	2024 School Closure Days & Public Holidays
1	Monday 11th March - Labour Day Public Holiday
2	Thursday 25th April - ANZAC Day Public Holiday
	Friday 26th April - Pupil Free Day
	Monday 10th June - King’s Birthday Public Holiday
3	Thursday 19th & Friday 20th September - Pupil Free Days - Staff Conference
4	Monday 4th November - Pupil Free Day
4	Tuesday 5th November - Melbourne Cup Public Holiday

Camps

Grade 3/4 Camp - 27th to 28th March

Grade 5/6 Camp- 27th to 29th November

Finally, we congratulate David and Alicia Worthington on the birth of Nathaniel. We know you will be wonderful parents and enjoy many joyous family times together.

Staffing Changes

It is with both sadness and congratulations that we will farewell Mr James Corkhill at the end of the year. James has taken a position at St Bedes, Mentone in 2024. We congratulate James on this exciting journey into secondary teaching and thank him for all he has done in our school over the past two years. James has been such a wonderful staff member, always jumping in and helping in any way possible and our students, staff and parents will be sad to see him go. James will be replaced by Steven Robinson.

We also will sadly farewell our Deputy Learning and Teaching, Sue Jackson, who will be heading back to St Joseph’s full time in 2024. Sue has been instrumental in leading our wonderful school in so many ways. Sue is a highly skilled expert and brilliant leader, working tirelessly with staff to ensure we have the highest of standards in learning, teaching, professional practice and much, much more. The work she has done in policy development along with raising the standard of our curriculum design, particularly in the area of Maths, has not gone unnoticed. Sue plans with teachers each week and has also led much of our professional development. She will be sadly missed on our leadership team and we thank her wholeheartedly for all she has done over the past four years. Sue will be replaced in her Deputy role by Naomi Corfield and we will continue to ensure our school goes from strength to strength.

Yours in Partnership,

Gab

Faith at St Mary's

with Miss Natalie Dullard